FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
September 18, 2006

CONTACT:
Alan Nakashima, County of Santa Barbara, Public Works Department Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division, 882-3616
Frances Gilliland, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, 961-8838

2006 Green Award Winners Announced
Consortium Celebrates the Thirteenth Annual Green Awards Program

Pictured 2006 Green Award winners, from left to right: Back row: Chris Weber and Drew Clarke, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore; Dennis Daniels, Marian Medical Center Middle row: Diane Kildun, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore; Jill Frandsen, Van Atta Associates; Kathy Nolan, NWA, Inc.- Landscape Architecture & Construction; Susan Van Atta; Leland Walmsley, NWA; Guillermo Gonzalez, Van Atta Associates. Front row: Sandy Hanes, The Family School; Stacey Isaac, Jeanine Brandi, and Karen McConaghy, Van Atta Associates.

SANTA BARBARA, CA Today, the Green Award Consortium announced winners of the 2006 Green Awards, which recognize Santa Barbara County businesses and organizations for outstanding environmental efforts. This year marks the 13th annual Green Awards program. Over 60 outstanding companies from throughout Santa Barbara County have been honored over the past thirteen years.

After receiving an unprecedented number of nominations this year, the Green Award Consortium had a very difficult time selecting only five organizations to receive a Green Award, according to Alan Nakashima of the Santa Barbara County Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division of the Public Works Department. This years recipients can be especially proud. Their accomplishments are notable and are characterized by their continuing efforts to identify new ways they can improve their environmental performance, he adds.

The other consortium members are the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara County Water Agency and SBCAG Traffic Solutions.

The 2006 Green Award winners represent a range of businesses, organizations and schools, and their efforts to protect our environment include a wide range of activities. Honored this year with Green Awards are: Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara; Marian Medical Center (Santa Maria); NWA Inc. - Landscape Architecture & Construction (Santa Barbara); Van Atta Associates (Santa Barbara); and The Family School (Los Olivos).

The Green Award recognizes companies and organizations for voluntary activities, above and beyond their primary missions that result in cleaner air or water, less waste, less traffic, conservation of energy and natural resources, or reduced use of hazardous materials. The awards are an annual highlight of Pollution Prevention Week, celebrated nationally during the week of September 18 - 24. Winners will be honored at a special awards luncheon on Friday, September 22nd.

Meet the Winners: A description of the winners with contact numbers follows.

The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara
Chris Weber, Director of Engineering, 805-565-8209 Drew Clarke, Director of Learning and Development, 565-8304

The Four Seasons Resort achieved ISO 140001 certification in 2005. This certification reflects a rigorous and comprehensive commitment by a business to minimize harmful effects on the environment, and achieve continual improvement of environmental performance.

Highlights of the Four Seasons environmental actions include:

• Reduction of energy use through use of variable speed drives on pump and fan motors, and replacement of energy-intensive lighting with LED lighting, compact fluorescents, and electronic-ballast fluorescents. The Resort tracks its energy consumption weekly by posting a report on its Intranet.
• Incentives for employees to use alternate transportation, including: subsidy of half the cost of monthly MTD passes; preferential parking and gas card raffle prizes for employee carpools; and bike shop gift certificates for employees who ride bicycles to work.  Reduction of air pollution through replacement of gas powered sweepers with electric sweepers.
• Quarterly training sessions to educate employees about the Resorts environmental practices and environmental topics are highlighted in its newsletters.
• To increase recycling, placed recycle bins in guest corridor closets, instituted a recycling program for the pool kitchen and donated pool towels to a homeless shelter for reuse.
• To reduce paper waste, Four Seasons has created an intranet and email communication system and has contacted their vendors to request reduced packaging materials.
• Guests are also notified of the Resorts environmental policy and environmental options and vehicle engines be turned off when guests are waiting for a valet.

The Family School, Los Olivos
Sandy Hanes, 688-5440

The Family School in Los Olivos serves students from preschool through fifth grade. The school has been committed to environmental education and responsibility since its beginnings 31 years ago.

This commitment is reflected in multiple projects on the schools campus, including:

• Each graduating fifth grade class creates a gift to the school, and these have included; an outdoor group meeting area with a solar panel water feature, hummingbird and butterfly plants, shaded cob chess bench, and ceramic murals made of recycled tile; and organic garden which reused such materials as ladders, headboards, and aluminum cans; a small orchard with a compost biome, strawbale chair, and garden shed; and an outdoor patio with recycled tile pavers, table tops, and log benches.
• Leftovers from the lunch tables are composted, using a worm bin.
• The school is replacing chemical cleaners with natural formulas.
• The school recycles everything accepted by the county waste facilities. During daily chore time, students empty recycling containers which collect used paper and other materials in each classroom. Each child has a reusable cup to reduce paper waste.
• Family School students make a presentation annually to student teachers on ways to incorporate environmental education into the classroom. The school has presented Earth Day workshops to the community on recycling and sustainability.

Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria
Sister Janet Corcoran, Director of Mission Services, 805-739-3106

Marian Medical Center has implemented several new programs to earn its second Green Award (after winning in 1999), including: a green waste recycling program that has diverted more than 207,960 pounds of green waste; a program that has reduced use of toxic material by eliminating mercury containing equipment; and a disposal program for expired medicines to prevent them from going into the wastewater stream. Many new programs are generated through the Partners for the Environment Committee, which meets monthly to coordinate, encourage and enhance environmentally friendly practices throughout the organization.

Other highlights of Marians new environmental programs include the following:

• A recycling program for plastics (such as shrink/bubble wrap, blue sterile wrap, and bags) has diverted 15,600 pounds of plastic waste.
• Energy conservation steps, including upgraded lighting and installation of motion sensors in appropriate areas.
• To conserve water, Marian has installed sensors at all faucets and has implemented a new mopping system.  Instituted a recycling program for confidential documents.
• Has mandated green landscaping practices using a minimal amount of chemicals and fertilizers.
• Assisted in establishing an approved tree-planting list highlighting non-allergenic trees for the Tree of Life program in Santa Maria.

Van Atta Associates, Inc., Santa Barbara
Susan Van Atta, president and Founder, 805-730-7444

Van Atta Associates (VAA) is a Landscape Architecture firm that practices sustainable landscape architecture for its clients and has made a superior commitment to sustainability in its own business. Van Attas model green building in Santa Barbara incorporates water and energy conservation features, use of permeable and planted parking surfaces, a biofiltered pond, planting of native drought-tolerant plants, and use of sustainably harvested wood, bamboo flooring and cabinets. The building uses natural lighting, natural ventilation and energy star appliances resulting in 50% less energy use than a conventional office space.

Other highlights of VAAs environmental practices include the following:

• Van Atta Associates diverts 75% of normal office waste by recycling paper, plastic and glass.
• Uses 100% post consumer recycled paper in Identity program including all business cards and stationary.
• Donates used equipment and furniture.
• Encourages the use of alternative transportation by providing a shared company vehicle, bicycle parking, and a shower for employees.
• VAA employees contribute time and resources to local environmental organizations and events, such as the Parade of Green Buildings, Earth Day, the Sustainability Project, and many others.

NWA Inc. - Landscape Architecture & Construction, Carpinteria
Kathy Nolan, President, and Leland Walmsley, CFO, 805-684-1718

NWA Inc. - Landscape Architecture & Construction is a landscape architecture firm that incorporates environmental practices in all aspects of its businessincluding the use of biodiesel-powered vehicles by the principals, and a demonstration garden featuring shallow basins for ground water recharge, gray water drip irrigation, organic gardening practices, recycled concrete, permeable surfaces, drought-tolerant plants, and an alternative lawn.

Other highlights include:

• NWA recycles plastic containers, glass bottles, and aluminum; oversized prints, cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, and composts office food scraps, cardboard and shredded paper. Black plastic plant containers are reused or returned to the nurseries.
• To reduce energy use, NWAs offices uses natural lighting from its skylights and fluorescent lighting.
• To reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, several employees telecommute or walk to work.
• NWAs landscape work incorporates organic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, native plants, watershed restoration and conservation design. At job sites, garden trimmings are used as mulch for weed suppression and moisture retention, cardboard and mulch are used for weed reduction, corn gluten is used as a pre-emergent, and companion planting is used for pest control and water conservation.
• NWAs community membership includes the Green Building Alliance and the City of Carpinteria Tree Board.

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